Flames’ Jacob Markstrom won’t play vs. Golden Knights; team signs Dustin Nickel as EBUG

The Calgary Flames announced via social media that goaltender Jacob Markstrom will be unavailable for Monday’s game vs. the Vegas Golden Knights due to illness.

As a result, former Alberta college and Junior A goaltender Dustin Nickel has been signed to an amateur tryout agreement and will serve as the Emergency Backup Goaltender (EBUG) for Dan Vladar.

Markstrom was originally scheduled to be in the lineup, being on the team’s roster before the 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time deadline. However, Markstrom was confirmed too sick to play after the deadline, forcing the team to sign Nickel as an EBUG.

Nickel, 32, last played with Mount Royal College of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) in 2011-12. Prior to that, he spent two seasons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, the province’s Junior A league, where he recorded a combined 20-24-2 record in 60 appearances.

Vladar, 26, has played six games this season, recording a 3-2-1 record with an .869 save percentage. Through his NHL career, Vladar has a 32-16-9 record with a .896 save percentage in 61 appearances.

Markstrom, 33, has a 5-7-2 record with a .901 save percentage in 14 appearances in 2023-24. Through his 14-year NHL career, Markstrom has a 197-180-57 record with a .909 save percentage in 449 appearances.

Heading into Monday’s game, the Flames have an 8-10-3 record, good for fifth in the Western Conference’s Pacific Division. Elias Lindholm leads the team in scoring with 15 points (five goals and 10 assists), followed by a three-way tie for second place with Andrew Mangiapane, Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau all having 13 points.